Ola is re-entering the bike taxi market in Bengaluru, but this time with an environment-friendly twist. The relaunch of Ola bike services feature a fleet of all-electric scooters, including Ola’s own S1 scooters. The rides will be competitively priced at INR 25 for 5 km and INR 50 for 10 km, making them not only affordable but also eco-friendly.
This marks Ola’s second attempt at bike taxi services in the city. In 2016, Ola, along with rival Uber, had introduced bike taxis in the city. However, these services were soon declared illegal by the local transport authorities, resulting in their discontinuation. Since then, new players like Rapido have entered the market, offering bike taxi services in various cities, including Bengaluru.
However, Ola’s recent venture into electric two-wheelers and its position as India’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer have set the stage for a new approach. The company aims to leverage its EV manufacturing capabilities to create a self-owned fleet of electric bikes, potentially leading to cost-effective and more environmentally sustainable bike taxi services.
While electric bikes bring several advantages, including lower operational costs and reduced environmental impact, they are relatively untested as taxis. Ola’s S1 bikes offer a range of approximately 100 km on the road, which decreases when carrying a pillion rider, a common scenario for bike taxis.
Nonetheless, Ola’s strong commitment to the electric vehicle revolution and its ambitious goal of phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles underscore its confidence in electric bikes as the future of mobility.
